Tech

By The Wreck

June 25, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

Unless you have mutiple five-star one-and-dones year after year (a la Duke, UNC, et al) you cannot expect to field a National Championship-caliber team consistently. It is worth noting that the two best GT teams in recent memory were veteran squads with a number of role players that were comfortable playing in the ACC and didn’t make dumb mistakes. Yes, Thad and Critt learned alot over the course of the season, but not enough to make a difference, obviously.

I hope that Hewitt will in the future focus on getting quality 3- and 4-star guys that don’t already have one foot out the door before they graduate high school. It is too difficult to reset the PG position every year and as we saw during the Zam Fredrick regime at PG, having a quality PG to distribute the ball is paramount.

By stinGTime

June 25, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

I’d take another Crit type PG in a flash…and be happy for a year!

By Scott

June 25, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

This is Scott from the GT Sports Blog.

www.gtsports.blogspot.com

I’ll be doing a look at the upcoming team this week. While there are a lot of factors in why the one-and-done has not been successful at Tech, I think there is one similarity that trumps all others - both years Tech had a starting freshman point guard. Don’t forget that Bosh’s freshman season was also Jarrett Jack’s. Don’t forget that it was an experienced Junior Jack that took the team to the NCAA finals.

Frosh PG Jarrett Jack. Frosh PG Javaris Crittenton. There-in lies the biggest issue with those two seasons. The fact that Chris Bosh and Thaddeus Young were also freshman on those teams is incidental.

To be successful, the PG is the key position in collegiate ball.

just my opinion.

By Ramble ON!

June 25, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this

It pains me to say Hewitt is not that good of a coach. Not one winning season in the ACC yet. I think that says enough.

By I agree

June 25, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

I agree with Scott, the PG position has been the key, the last couple of years. However, if you go back to the early 90’s with Cremins, Tech had a Freshman PG in K.Anderson, and went to the Final Four, and also had a Freshman PG in Marbury and won a ACC regular season title and had a Sweet 16 appearance. So, I think it goes back to coaching. Hewitt really needs to have a year like 2004, when the team was not expected to do much ,b ut over achieve, or he is going to start feeling the heat.

By Techguy78

June 25, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

Tech has become known as a school where a freshman can come in and play for one season and help them to have a respectable year, yet not go to class that semester, and fail to academically qualify for Spring semester.

But that doesn’t matter anyway because they declare for the NBA and usually get drafter for their talent. The fact is though they are not true students, just ringers that are given a scholarship.

The Tech administration should be ashamed of this practice, especially as it presents itself as a superior academic institution. In this particular instance that is a joke.

Tech has never been gifted with the curse of self awareness enough to experience shame, regardless of their hypocrisy.

The administration starting with the Tech president and going down (fast) is responsible for allowing this type of academic fraud at Tech and the NCAA should step in and do something about it.

By #21=Top 50,1stBallot

June 25, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this

I hear you guys on all of this “one and done” blah, but lest we forget, how did Tech do the year after Bosh left? I mean I guess one way to look at it is that Tech is 0-1 in NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES after being “victimized” by one and dones. Not saying it will happen this year, just noting.

By GT

June 25, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

Well said By #21=Top 50,1stBallot. The sky is falling.

By Alan

June 25, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this

I don’t believe that Techguy78 has his facts straight. If a student athelete (say Crittenton) fails his first (Fall) semester in school he becomes academically ineligible for the spring. Since the spring semester begins the first full week in Janaury, a freshman basketball player would miss the entire ACC season as well as the tournaments. Doesn’t make sense. What makes more sense is the the student/athelete takes a minimum number of course hours (say 6) and works to have a C average. What evidence do you have Techguy78 that GT has developed a reputation for academic fraud.

By Steve

June 25, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this

I this e-mail, I won’t get into the “one-and-done” effect on our won/lost record. My question is what impact does “one-and-done” have on Tech’s future scholarships in this age of emphasis on graduation rates. In the future, aren’t schools going to be penalized by loss of scholarships when gradulation rates fall below a certain level?

By GT90CHAMPS

June 25, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this

look hewitt says critt is not ready for the nba and i agree so much and so do the hawks

By GT90CHAMPS

June 25, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this

maurice miller will be the point next year with gani lawal both top 100 players in the nation

By GT90CHAMPS

June 25, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this

i think maurice miller and gani lawall top 100 players that will be attending gt next year will have a big impact

By GT90CHAMPS

June 25, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this

Look we could be like uga and have a team every 20 years so lets give gt alot of credit

By GT90CHAMPS

June 25, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this

GT-4 NATIONAL TITLES UGA-1 NATIONAL TITLE AND THIS IS IN FOOTBALL SO UGA SUXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

By JustMe

June 25, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this

IMHO, it isn’t Hewitt’s system that needs changing, but rather the type of basketball player to recruit. Yes, we should recruit talent, but also players that want a good education and college degree from Tech.

It is fine to have a 1-and-done player once every other year or so, but the core of the team needs to remain for continuity.

By Chad

June 25, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this

Until Paul stops the practice of allowing Student Athletes to participate in tickle piles we will always have this problem.

By JustMe

June 25, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

Chad - Paul learned the tickle pile technique from UGAY football players. Obviously, GA Tech isn’t gay enough for them to work.

By NC Grad here

June 26, 2007 7:06 AM | Link to this

Some things just don’t make sence. Like UGA and Gay. Georgia Tech on the other hand……….

By 2D

June 26, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this

Freshmen point guards like Anderson and Marbury may have taken the teams deep into the ACC and NCAA tournaments, but they did not do it alone. Take a look back at the “great” freshman point guards and they had backcourt running mantes to help.

Anderson had Brian Oliver, a four year starter. Don’t forget that team also had Dennis Scott, a first team All-American and Naismith player of the year.

Marbury had Drew Barry, a fifth year senior who led the ACC in assists three strait years. He also had Matt Harpring who went on to the first of three strait first team ACC selections.

Even back in the eighties, the point guard positions overlapped: Price - Neel - Dalrymple - Oliver - Anderson and there was an abundance of other great players: Salley, Ferrell, Hammonds, Scott (already mentioned).

So, while freshman point guard may not be ideal, it can work when there other quality pieces. Unfortunately, Coach Hewitt has not been able to stockpile those “other” pieces. His two best teams were veteran laden, played good defense, understood and accepted their roles, and had no stars unless one would consider Jarrett Jack a star. Some would, I wouldn’t.

By fred

June 26, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

Hewitt does not work in reality.I would take five very good athletes with great attitudes and beat the pants off “blue chippers” 4 of 5 games.

Where are these guys?

Out there.

Who said recruiting, or life, was a pie job?

By dowgie

June 26, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this

51-7

By bringinDaLogic

June 26, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Some of you have it confused. As a coach, your job is to recruit the best available talent. No matter if the talent stays 1 or 4 years. If coach Hewitt recruited the 3 or 4 year starter and didnt win, you people would complain that, “Hewitt can’t recruit the impact players we need to win.” The truth is, GT is a nice program, but is not in the class of a Duke, UNC, Arizona, or other truely elite programs. Don’t be “Kentucky fan” without the excuses (historical dominance). The previous programs all have the luxury of hoarding top talent. In many cases, a bench guy on UNC would be a star at other programs. However, because he is behind another equally talented player, he must wait to play. Thus, you have the best of both worlds, a player with both talent and experience. To have a great year-especially in the ACC-requires many things to go right. If you ever expect to win, you can’t limit yourself on the type of talent you go after.

By Navigator

June 26, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Hewitt!Hewitt!Hewitt!, need I say more. He has chosen this path of one year players, even though his best season had none of these. It’s just a matter of time before recruiting violations (non-graduation, NCAA quotas) catch up with him. Where is the administration in this process? Aren’t they concerned about this trend? After all, we here continually from school management that the reputation of the school goes before all else.

By gtlinz

June 26, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Hewitt is a young coach and will figure this out. He recruited a lot of character guys early and then decided he needed a lot more talent to complete in the acc (I heard him say he learned this after the 2004 season). He also lately has loaded the bench so deep that a lot of atheletes that are sometimes transferring or giving up. I believe he does need a blend of top notch guys with some consistent 3-4 star players who are commited to his system (DEFENSE, DEFENSE). I believe Hewitt will be successfull long term at GT.

By Problem Solver

June 26, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

I am a successful salesman for a large firm in Atlanta and I generated 34 million dollars for my company in 2006. My compensation was a lousy $25,000 which could only be spent on books, tuition, cafeteria food and tuition. NCAA = Legalized Prostitution

By gtmellon

June 26, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

Problem Solver, I was an intern at your firm and remember you well. You threw your weight around and carried on with the arrogance of entitlement. You cruised past me in your company car while I was waiting for the bus. You flaunted your $25k contract while I was working for school credit and a reference. Too bad you blew all your company stock options in 4 years, I saved mine and now they’re worth a fortune. You’re a great pop warner coach though.

By The Awful Truth

June 26, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

Even with the BCS system implemented, the NCAA does not recognize an NCAA champion in football. So for all of the Techies and supporters from other schools claiming national football championships, you are all liars and full of $hit.

By Problem Solver

June 26, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

GTmellon also known as (Larry the Intern) You have to admit that we both worked for a corrupt organization. Think about it, we help them generate millions, and in return they have rules and provision that exclude us from the revenue sharing. And to make matters worse, they force you to work there for at least one year before you can apply for fair compensation with a real employer. And if you’re skill is in another area they force you to work there for three years. And let’s not forget all of the your former co-workers who trash you because you seek market value for your skills. But on the another note, they only force certain people into playing for free. Others can “advance to go” as long as your craft is not dominated by a certain group. Congress needs to stop investigating MLB and they need to investigate the NCAA.

By gtmellon

June 26, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

Problem Solver, I’m with you, I was just busting your chops. You have to admit though it is an extremely slippery slope, but there’s nothing else like it. Maybe one graduate in 10,000 becomes a big time CEO, but even if you fall short, you’re still a VP or something. If a kid falls short of the NFL or NBA after 4 years they don’t have much. What about offering these kids lifetime scholarships, the opportunity to take classes at no cost for years after graduation. So when the cold water of reality slaps them in the face at age 25 they can go back with some wisdom. That idea is slippery too, but the millions in revenue they helped generate should make the free tuition justified.

By JustMe

June 26, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

NC State grad,

As an alumnus of GA Tech and of NC State, I am ashamed of you. How could you stick up for an SEC team over an ACC team? You have no loyalties. Give back your degree now.

By SMokeyJo

June 26, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this

Darymple NEVER played point at Tech for more than a play or two.

By bill

June 26, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this

Dalrymple was a shooting guard, but he brought the ball up the court when Price or Noodles couldn’t or didn’t. My all time favorite playe at Tech. If some of those kids were around now , they would have left just like these 2 did. It’s a different world. That is why that period is considered the golden age of college hoops. NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT with the new rules, you will see more kids stay 2-3 years more often than not as time goes on.

By JustMe

June 26, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this

Problem Solver -

The problem is that you want everything right now. Your “job” is to attend college and get a diploma FIRST. If you want to play professional sports, then do so and skip college.

College is not professional sports. College is a place to get an education and too many (especially athletes) forget that.

You don’t want an education? Then play amatur sports - go play in the Candian League or the European League.

The very second that colleges literally pays anyone to play sports is the very second we are doomed.

More to your post…. first, you alone did not generate jack sh#t for your “company” (read college). You simply played a sport. The FANS payed the money to support the college, not YOU! You didn’t generate any money at all!

By RW

June 27, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

By: Angry firm To: Problem solver

It is true, you worked for us for a year, and contributed a small amount towards the profits of our firm. However, the amount of money and time we invensted in you left us more than a little upset when you left for greener pastures after one sub-par year, (2006).

Seriously, how many college students are paying off loans for ten-plus years after graduating from college, while you were allowed to attend a top university for free to play a game? Regular students don’t get compensation for going to classes, why should you? You say you generated money for the college? You were a member of a group, had a boss that told you what to do at all times, with the job of pleasing customers. Your job was customer service, which is the equivalent of a minimum wage job. You were paid much more than minimum wage, if you chose to use it properly. You didn’t. You left before exhausting the opportunities of the job, which is an education from a top university and the future earning potential the likes most poeple will never see. Get over yourself.

By Ty

June 28, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

Good comments, gang….. not a lot to add.

One clarification: Bruce Dalrymple was never a ‘shooting guard’. He was a small forward (as noted in the famous SI cover story with Mark Price). Known for driving over bigger players and rebounding like a demon, he was a great asset to Price (who had probably the most beautiful jump shot of all time).

As for the topic at hand, always remember:

1) Hewitt is (and always will be) a class act. A coach you don’t have to worry about embarrassing your school.

2) GT has made it to the ‘lofty air’ of the elite b-ball programs (see the recruits for proof). Do you really want to be a FSU or Miami in b-ball? (they have lots of 4-year starters)

3) Though in the ‘lofty air’, they don’t have the legacy of those programs you like to cite (UNC, Duke, etc). Thus, you don’t have a bench full of NBA-caliber talent waiting to come in the game. Losing your first team A-lister will hurt much more.

4) Programs that can keep a core of quality first-tier players for 3-4 years will be more successful (look at the rise of the mid-majors for evidence).

So, you’re left with this paradox (if in Hewitt’s shoes)… Do you recruit to the middle-level talent knowing the NBA isn’t in their short term future and ‘hope’ they can develop in your system to be winners (quickly)? Or, do you go for the best players and try to teach them the aggressive running style of the game that makes them even more lucrative to the NBA?

As for me, good luck to Young and Crit…I hope you do well (but fear you’ll be among the many early entries who spend the next several years getting splinters in your warm-ups and regret the wonderful experience you left behind early).

By gtpi

June 28, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this

hey logic…. last time i looked chp’s contract had zilch nada zippo to do with recruiting.

it is all about wins n losses, acc championships and ncaa appearances as well as the graduation rate.

players that r one n done dont graduate.

and as far as wins n losses…. well the one n dones havent done much for that either.

i personally think that while chp is a class act he is mediocre as a coach…. so far. the stars he has recruited have held the wolves at bay by creating interest in the program. quite the false sense of security.

meanwhile we have a few loyal fans that keep pointing to that one good ncaa run and say it is only a matter of time. i think those folks are also hoping that herschel walker’s son is on the horizon.

if cph continues to maintian his current trend of mediocrity in the acc and ncaa’s, even the one n dones wont save his job.

By GT Robert

June 29, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

I think the mistake Paul made was when he joined in the Tickle Piles!!!

By cnamo

June 29, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

I like Hewitt but he needs better assistants. Not being able to inbound the ball is embarrassing. We also need some players with fundamentals and fire (Europeans and Clarence Moore, Mario West, respectively). Also, regarding the “tickle piles” comments posted under different names (probably the same guy), started with a morbidly obese UGA fan (of course) from Oconee County who liked it when his chihuahuas jumped on him when he was shirtless and lying on the floor. Way to add to his legacy rednecks.

By RW

June 29, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this

I’ve never heard of the “tickle piles”. Could someone explain these references to me?

By GT4EVR&EVR

June 29, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this

Ah, I remember tickle piles from my undergrad days. Before the UGA football games we would be so excited only to be disappointed afterward. This is our year fellow engineers!!

By bwash21

July 1, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this

I’ve tried so hard to love these guys the last 2 yrs and just can’t get it. I’m a season ticket holder since Hewitt took over and want to love this team, Hewitt, and embrace the whole program but the lack of coaching and discipline on the court is driving me away. I don’t know if I can take another year of point guard development.

By George P

July 2, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

Hewitt’s problem is that he tries to mold the one and dones into team players. Why? They’ve never been team players before. They’re one and done at tech. Why waste the talent? I thought his oblique references to the Bosh situation this season were in recognition of that. You sure didn’t see Kevin Durant being made into a team player.

By kwjfdb lmaxqp

July 4, 2007 7:23 AM | Link to this

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